First blog on the NEW EX

I still have a great deal to learn about the site and getting around. There are things about the old site that I miss but I think I am becoming somewhat more comfortable. For some reason, I feel less connected to people and hey YOU, PEOPLE, I MISS YOU! I have counted on this site every day since I quit 1,111 days ago. That number seems like it should have some “magical” significance. I am not sure what but it’s a lot of numbers, it’s a lot of days of freedom.

My freedom from smoking is invaluable, I don’t miss one minute of smoking. When I have an occasional “memory” of smoking, it really is nothing that I have to work to dismiss, it’s kind of like a gnat. Considering the fact that I smoked for 47 years, that’s pretty remarkable. I so wanted to be able to say “this is my Forever Quit” when I first started 1,111 days ago, I can’t tell you exactly when I knew for sure that it was but I CAN tell you that lots of really challenging things happened that would most certainly have given me an excuse to smoke in the past…on my 10 month anniversary, I got up and wrote a blog celebrating how far I had come and then I went to work. That afternoon, my husband called to tell me that our house was on fire. We lost everything we owned, but most of all, we lost three beloved cats. It’s been over two years now and we have a new house on the same lot, I cannot talk about the fire without crying. I cannot think of those cats without crying. The loss was enormous and I will certainly never get over it. They died of smoke inhalation…their beautiful little bodies were perfect when we buried them. I never thought of smoking, NEVER, what possible good would it have done? Would it have brought my babies back? Would all of the family photographs have been returned, all of the kids’ school papers? Obviously not. If you ever think of smoking PLEASE ask yourself what it would change, smoking does not relieve pain whether it is physical or emotional, smoking steals your breath, I have COPD and had both of my upper lobes of my lungs removed a year after the fire. I would probably be a candidate for a lung transplant at some point although I am not sure. My most recent low dose CT scan showed “One or more nodules that are likely benign.” It also showed something else that the letter I received did not identify, it said that I needed to see my doctor as soon as possible to “discuss these results and determine the next step in your medical care.” I found this out just before I left on vacation and I have an appointment on Monday, the 6th. There is no way that I could have gotten it moved up, it takes forever to get appointments with my doc. The emphasis was that “it should not be ignored.” I think the doctor’s office would have called me if they were terribly concerned. I will deal with it when I know. Nothing I can do until I know, other than to pray. My message to you, no matter where you are in your quit or even if you haven’t yet quit, smoking isn’t worth it. There is no warning that is big enough.

I reached my three year anniversary when I was on vacation and had no way to connect with EX, thank everyone for celebrating FOR me. It was January 19th. I thought of all of you, I had planned a blog but didn’t have any way to write one. Let this 1,111 days of freedom be that celebration!

Well I am all about celebrations - so lets celebrate 3 years and also 1111 days! I really like that number! You are a wonderful EXample to all of us - old and new - that we can make it through anything without smoking! Thanks for sharing your story! Congratulations!

You are a SHINING example that there is never a good reason to smoke; there are only excuses! You have been through more than anybody here and you came through it all with your head up, your commitment firm, and your life smoke free.

Yay Ellen, you are going to be an old pro before long maneuvering around, I still feel somewhat disconnected too but I believe that we're all finding our way but in the meantime a super duper congratulations on your splendiforous 1,111 glorious smoke free days and counting WTG, over 3 spectacular yrs living a life of pure Freedom. elvan

OK, I'm just going to give you the "Wonder Woman" award for outstanding bravery, stamina, commitment, plus an awesome ability to inspire others to follow in your footsteps. You have always been a great inspiration for me. I.E. : If she can do it under those circumstances, then so can I. Great blog! Wishing you the best possible outcome with your Dr. appointment. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Congratulations on 1111 awesome and inspiring days of freedom!

1,111 DOF does have "Magical" significance! For someone that is following behind you, your success, in spite of the challenges you face, SCREAMS to me that I CAN DO THIS! Thank You for sharing and God bless.

The most profound comment on one of my early blogs was that if I could honestly tell myself that smoking would help me or improve a situation to do go ahead and smoke. That response came from you. You were referring to the beginning of your own quit, but the message was clear. I could not believe that there was a crazy lady that I didn't even know giving me permission to smoke when everyone around me was on high alert out concern that I might fail.

Here I am, 61 days later, still repeating those words, and still smoke free. I may have told you that story over and over and over - but those words hand a huge impact on me, and they are the top item in my quit kit. They are what I reach for if I need help. We all have a real AH-HA moment in our quits - that was mine.

Do not ever think that you and the other elders don't make a difference in our quits. You do. I am very happy that you did not give up on this site. It may take us a while to feel connected again, but we will get there.

Thank you so much, Susan. Believe me, those words got me through some times that I never expected them to...my boss felt that I was really weepy a couple of weeks after the fire and she told me maybe I should talk to someone. I said, ME? Seriously? I talk to EVERYONE. She felt that I might need some sort of medication. I told her that I had used "medication" for 47 years, it was nicotine and I was feeling things just like I was supposed to for the first time since I was 17. I did go to see a shrink because I thought maybe I should, he told me that I was not depressed, I was "SAD". I asked him to put that in a note to my boss. He said if I wasn't sad, there would be something seriously wrong with me.

He offered me a prescription for Cymbalta to see if it would help with my severe pain and let me sleep. I took one dose and I couldn't get up the next day, I was so sedated and dizzy. I never took it again.

I think that the more we use the site our comfort level will grow. Congratulations on your quit, I find you very inspiring. Please know that my positive thoughts and prayers will accompany you to your doctor's appointment.

I have learned so much from you and I have taken advantage of all of the resources you posted links to, the things I have learned from you, I could never have found without your help. Please accept my deepest gratitude.

Congratulations, 1111 I like that number too. 1, 11, 111, and 1111 in Angel Numbers all mean: "Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts are manifesting instantly into form. Focus only upon your desires and not upon your fears." You have been a great elder here. Always advising in truth and love. Glad you are able to make adjustments and be willing to relearn the EX site. We had to do the same thing to quit smoking. If you can quit smoking you can do anything. XO